Proof that British thrillers can really be great

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2004)

I can't understand most of the criticisms that have been made against 28 Days Later. This is not supposed to be a chronicle of how the world would deal with infectious disease. It is about how people - different people - would react to such a situation, given incomplete information and the complete breakdown (and disappearance) of society.
The main character - the principle principal as it were - is Jim. 28 Days Later really centres around his movements and thoughts. He moves through the film in search of a father figure, eventually learning to take control of his own survival. If that premise sounds corny and familiar, its execution is anything but.
As the film progresses, the characters' situation moves on and things get better for them. From the underground shop where Jim spends his first night, to Frank's fortified tower block and, later, the stately home outside Manchester where the film finishes, we see progressively better conditions.
However, this sanctuary also serves as the greatest threat to the characters' survival. I won't give away any details, but Christopher Ecclestone's performance is utterly believable and the final plot twist provided (at least for me) a genuine surprise. Thus, the story loses neither pace nor focus at any point. All-in-all, it's a great story and a satisfying experience.
28 Days Later may be magnificent, but its presentation on DVD is even better. Many films get a DVD release with a poor selection of making-of documentaries, unfunny footage of the cast messing around, pointless trailers and terrible deleted scenes.
The technology is put to its best use when taken completely seriously. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have put a huge amount of effort into the DVD release - providing an informative and engaging commentary of the film, including an alternative ending that was never even shot. No matter, though - a storyboard has been drawn up and the writer and director read from the script to fill in the rest of the movie. It is an intimate experience - almost as though you are sat in a room with your mates.
The on-disc documentary - "Pure Rage" - sensibly avoids being sycophantic drivel. It's a genuinely interesting look at the production process as well as a crash-course in infectious disease - better than a lot of TV documentaries!
Altogether, the film itself is superb, and the DVD is a valuable addition to anyone's collection - if you like to think from time to time, of course.